Volleyball bounced back this weekend, as it defeated Patriot League foes Lafayette and Lehigh on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively. The Bison started their weekend at home on Saturday, when they earned a tough 3-1 win in Davis Gym against the Leopards. They turned around on Sunday and traveled to Bethlehem, Pa. to win their second straight match, this time against the Mountain Hawks. This improves the Orange and Blue’s record to 9-13 overall and 6-7 in the conference, as well as ends its five-game losing streak.
The Bison dominated most of the match on Saturday against Lafayette. Sidney Shaffer ’27 and Bella Rodriguez ’28 led the team with 17 kills each, contributing to the Orange and Blue’s 62 total kills versus Lafayette’s 46. The Orange and Blue also outperformed the Leopards in digs 76-53, led in that regard by Bri Frazilus ’26, Rodriguez, Cameron Lloyd ’27 and Tijana Kostic ’26. Setter Caleigh O’Connell ’26 played her part in the match with 31 assists; this put her over the 2,800 milestone that seals her at third in program history.
The first set proved tricky at first, with seven ties and three lead changes. Despite Lafayette taking a 21-19 lead, the Bison answered with a six-point run to end the set on a 25-22 win. The Orange and Blue then kept the momentum going in the second set with an early lead. The Leopards came back shortly before the midpoint to tie the contest 13-13, but the Bison responded with a 3-0 and a later 8-2 run to secure the set, 25-18. Lafayette responded in the third set with a 6-1 run against the Orange and Blue. Despite attempts to tie and change leads again, the Leopards conquered 25-19. In the fourth set, the Bison were determined to take the win, notching a 6-0 and 5-0 run to steal the set 25-16, as well as the overall match.
Sunday’s victory came even easier for the Bison, as they cleared Lehigh with a dominant sweep in three sets, never letting the opponent score higher than 19. The Orange and Blue led in kills 42-25, and outpaced the Mountain Hawks in digs, 40-36. Shaffer scored in the double digits for kills again, with ten, this time with Frazilus leading the team with 12. O’Connell and Laura Caro Sanchez ’26 worked together for a total of 32 assists.
After a short 3-2 trail in the first set, the Bison never saw a deficit again. They utilized 5-0 and 8–2 runs to quickly put away the set, 25-18. The second and third sets followed similarly. The Orange and Blue used two 4–0 runs in the second for the 25-19 victory, and then a 9-2 run in the third for the final blow against Lehigh.
The Bison will be back in action today against Holy Cross and tomorrow against Colgate to continue Patriot League action.
